<p>Well, to each his own. Most people in foreign countries do 5 years of high school… in Europe, at least. So it’s natural they have calculus I / II, some basic science, etc.</p>
<p>I think it’s nice that colleges allow AP courses to count for some courses. I don’t think they need to, but why not? Motivated students can enter college with zero AP courses and <em>still</em> be better off than most of their peers.</p>
<p>Due to circumstances beyond my control, I entered college with a ~3.5 GPA, no extracurriculars, and no AP classes. I am now at (or very close to near) the top of my class and have, in general, been successful in every venture. Conversely, I know people who had a full year of AP credit who make B’s and C’s and don’t do anything extracurricular now.</p>
<p>If you want to take advanced courses in HS, more power to you. Otherwise, there’s time later for that sort of thing. Double major or get a Master’s degree, etc. Everybody’s different.</p>
<p>Still, I would question the motives of anyone taking multivariable calculus and linear algebra before the senior year of high school… sounds to me like peer / parent / societal pressure.</p>